Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-17

The statistical tables concerning street improve
ments. showing among other things the amounts
expended upon the streets OF the different sections
since 1873. prepared for the Commissioners and
similar 70 those which appeared In their last an
nual report, are not SUFFICIENT TO sustain the con-
tention that the different sections have received
about what they were entitled 70. and that the
tax OF Partially for favored localities has had no
foundation In fact IL Il, perhaps impracticaole
70 extend the table OF street expenditures 30 that
VIII cover accurately the improvement period
prior TO 1sTS but q consideration O. the appor-
tionment Of improvements during that period,
modified by part payments BY the sections for
their improvement In the shape OF the proceeds
ofspecial improvement taxes Is necessary in an &C
counting between the sectionS Moreover, the
table BY which it In shown that the northwest
section, for example, which has received SIT per
cent OF the improvements for the last ten years,
was entitled to 5I4 per cent IL based upon taxa
bic valuations, population, area, and unimproved
area OF this year. and II this basis OF appor
tionment Is correct would furnish no standard ex-
cept for this year. The taxable valuations and pop
ulation OF the present, which may have resulted
from the tendency given 10 the current OF settle
ment By past improvements In q particular sec
ton are not to be used to justify appointments
which may seem 70 have favored that section In
the past IL would be necessary TO show that the
section said 70 be favored showed the same per-
population Just before and at the time OF these
past appointments as at present. when the bene-
ut OF the Improvements has been felt and appears
in the sections superior development. There are
drawbacks too, TO which reference has already
been made, In depending upon present valua-
ton and population as the foundations
OF an apportionment Of future improvements
and IL seems only fair 70 consider the percentage
Of the surface Of each section actually improved
tn In hfcspt Tor,
for the future. Since the showing as to what the
sections have received is not complete, and since
the showing 70 what the sections entitled TO
receive Il not entirely satisfactory and applies only
70 the present, q comparison OF the showfngs
cannot give thoroughly reliable conclusions The
Commissioners themselves recognize that other
considerations than those which figure in the table
are properly TO be weighed In deciding the propor
ton 70 which each section Is entitled by apporton
Ing TO the northwest for instance only $50 per cent
after showing that ft Is entitled to STA per cent
when everything Is considered, IL may be doubted
whether the northwest will have any ground to
complain OF this cut though It may reasonably
object 10 being whitfield down to 15S per cent. as
proposed by the citizens subcommittee. In order
10 apportion improvements still more equitably 1t
would seem necessary to divide the city into
more numerous sections for that purpose. In
the large northwest section, for instance.
the improvements demanded largely by the
showing OF unimproved area In its easternTnost
belt and the taxable values and population Of its
southern belt including the avenue, might be given
entirely TO the northwest corner or fashionable
residence quarter OF the section without violating
the equities as between the four sections into
which the city Is now divided. There Is no palpa-
bic reason why the erection Of an immense bust
ness house on west Pennsylvania avenue should
result In the improvement OF one outlying resi-
dence portion OF the city rather than another. It
would seem 70 be easier to preserve the equities
In the matter between citizens and taxpayers
by q more minute subdivision OF the city, the
needs and resources OF each part being considered
separately. Such q division would Of course be
merely artificial and temporary and solely with q
view TO do justice In the matter OF Improvements.
sectional prejudices Are already too strong in the
Guy; but some such procedure as that suggested
would quiet rather than aggravate sectionalism.
OF course II the money equitably assigned to each
section Is equitably apportioned among the parts
Of that section the end suggested Is practically
reached, and a formal subdivision in the tables
showing the fact, would De valuable only for pur-
poses Of record
The week opens not buOyantly but more hone